Improvement in boot-crimps



initrd tataiatent (Bifida.

the sole-part, and also near the' u part of the tree, are inserted small wire rest-pins, f f,

BENJAMINC. FIN-recon, or sTEPHENsoNs DEPOT, VIRGINIA. Leners Patent No. 87,333, eared Mami/, 1869.

IMPRQVEMENT IN Boor-clumps.

V Thel`Schedu1e referred to in these Letters Patent and making par: of the same.

Be it known that I, BENJAMm O. FLNFROCK, of Stephensons Depot, inthe county of Frederick, and State of Virginia, have invented and made certain new `and useful Improvements in` BootLCrimps; and I do hereby declare that the following is a full, clear, and exact description of the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, and to the letters of refer- ,ence marked thereon, and making 'a part of this specification, in which, v l

Figure 1 represents an ordinary boot-tree, somewhat changed in form, with the appliances attached thereto7 and the upper of a boot stretched thereon. y Figure2 represents, a longitudinal view of the ilexible metal-lever appliances used for keying or tightenmg. Y

Figure 3 represents one of the jaw-gripes or clamps used.

Figures 4 and 5 show similardevicestogs. 2 and 3. Figure represents a wedge-like tightening or tension-nut, and a jaw-gripe or clamp combined therewith.

The nature of vmy improvements consists in using devices which I term detachable jaw-gripes or clamps and flexible keying or tightening-levers, whereby the usual yrequirement of stretcliingnthe upper leather with aid of .pincel-s is obviated, and also doing away with tackin g the leather to the boot-tree, and, by forming the upper into "shape much more .readily and more perfectly, the greatest tension being applied immediately across the instep, in a direct line toward the heel, where most required. l g i To enable others to become skilled in the construction, application, use, and operation thereof, I herewith describe the same, as fo1lows,viz: i

Arr ordinary boot-tree is employed, as shown at a a a. a, g. 1. y r

About midway of the length ofthe sole and the legpart of the tree is suiciently cut out or.reduced in transverse diameter, as indicated by the letters b b and dotted curved line c c c, and the outer surfaceof' the reduced part bevelled oif, as indicated by the short dotted lines l 2.

.Through the longitudinal length ofthe sole and the i leg part of the tree, a suitable groove or channel is formed, as indicated by the letter d and the dotted line e e e e. i

. 'Iransversely across the groove `or channel, through pper end of thelegleaving space of about one-eighth of an inch,..more or less, between the bottom o f the groove or channel e and the pins f f. Y. At d and the dots g, are headed stop-pins driven or screwed into the bottom of the groove or channel, all for the purpose as hereinafter explained. At letters h h and t i, figs. l, 2, and 4, are indicated one long and one short ilexible metal keying or tightening-lever, each one being formed with short, folded anches, JJ, the long ends h h being slightly less in width than the grooves or channels d c in the sole and leg-parts of the tree, the metal of the ilexible keying# levers being of suitable shape and required thickness for the necessary' strength and ilexibility. i

The short ends t' of the keying-levers are `split or forked, and slightly bent or curved inwardly, as shown `iu vfigs. 2 and 4. l In the heel of the boot-tree are permanently inserted two wire guide-rods, 7c 1c, with a cross-connecting metal brace-plate, L L, formed with a suitable eye or hole in' the centre, through which is inserted acrank-like ten-v sion tightening-rod, m m, formed with screw-thread on, the end n, toward the heel of thel tree. i Fig. 6 and letters O O represent a suitable -keying or tension-nut, with bevelled ends, io p., formed withl suitable slots, q q, and a central screw-thread hole, lr. Figs. 3 and 5 and letters s s s, t i, represent and in-` dicate small flexible metal jaw-gripes or clamps, formed on the inner surface, near their ends, with notches or ridges, as shown in figs. 3 and 5, the one indicated by t't being formed also with a hole for the insertion of the screw-end ofthe crank-like tension or tighteningrod m m.

The manner of applying said devices, 'and the operaf tion of my improvements,are as follows, viz:

The boot-upper being prepared in the usdal manner,

the long ends h h of the flexible keying or pressing levers, iigs. 2 and 4,' are adjusted within their respect'- ive grooves or channels in the boot-tree, the long ends .h h passing ,between the pins ff and bottom of the groove, and abutting up against the stop-pins d g, fig. l, while the forked ends straddle the two wire guiderods It k, and rest flush against the bevelled ends of thev screw-tension or keying-nut O O, th'e jaw-gripe or clamp t being applied lover the top of the screw-tension nut 0 O,and arranged in place with the crank-like tensionvrod m m, n, fig. 1.

The devices described being all adjusted Iin position, as shown in iig. l, the upper of the boot is placedover; the tree, edges pulled down with the hands, and-ar` 1 ranged over the anches J J of the tension-levers hi,

and also over the sides of the tension-nut O O, when the jaw-gripes or ciampss s and t are each severallyUv slipped over the outside surface of the upper, as shown, the crank-like tension or ti ghtenin g-rod m m being thereafter more or less tightened up inthe manner required, the shortends i i pressing or bending outwardly by the action ofthe tension-nut O v0, and by all of which means the upp eris drawn or stretched down closeover the .boottree, the keying-lever h t' pressing outward against the jaw-gripe or clamp s t, Whose inside surfaces being groovedor notched, catch on to the upper, thus wedging outwardly from the boot-tree, the iianches J J of the keying-lever h t' and jaw-gripes or clamps .s s t, imping ing together on each side of the boot-uppers, as shown in fi 1.

Te advantages of my. improvements over the .many

- as to be adapted to the application of my devices.

Having shown the form and construction, and described the nature and operation of my said improvements,

What I claim as new, and desire to secure byLetters Patent of the United States, is as follows:

smeris 1. I claim forming a boot-tree with the reduced leg, heel, and sole-parts c o c c, and providing the tree with a groove or channel, d, e c, substantially as described.

2. I claim the construction and use of the peculiar flexible keying-levers h t' J, or their equivalents,` the jaw-gripes yor clamps s s t, and the bevelled slotted screw-nut O P, as shown and described.

,3. I also claim the combination of said devices with the guide-rod and plate-appliance, the crank-like tension or tightening-rod k k, L L, m fm mail substantially in the manner set forth, shown, and described.

BENJ. C. FINFROCK.

Witnesses:

ALFRED CLERENGEB, H. M. BAKER. 

